The morbidly curious might get more joy from visiting Castle Island, in South Boston, where Boston’s own Whitey Bulger (who was likely responsible for more than five deaths) did much of his plotting. Lore has it that the gangland leader chose to visit Castle Island because the wind made it difficult for the feds to tape his chats, but this could as easily have been achieved by the roar of traffic in front of the Old State House. A more likely reason for Whitey favoring Castle Island, besides the convenience to his house, is that it isn’t crawling with camera-toting tourists. This 22-acre urban park, connected to the mainland by pedestrian and vehicular causeways, is on both the State and National Register of Historic Places. Its centerpiece is Fort Independence, which played a vital role in the protection of the harbor during the turbulent days of early America. A stroll around the "Sugar Bowl"--a circular walkway that extends out over the water--makes for a fabulous afternoon, especially when topped off with a snack from Sullivan's, which is located at the foot of Fort Independence. Kids will love the renovated jungle gym, including a nod to the past with nostalgic 60's climb-on alphabet animals. The tot lot also includes swings for babies, big kids and handicap swings. Adults will enjoy the spectacular view of downtown Boston and water everywhere, dogs will appreciate they are welcome (leashed). There is even a dog drinking fountain. Everyone will appreciate that the harbor water is now clean enough to dip your toes in without fear.
The restrooms are currently being renovated but there are portable toilets available.

Also known as Moakley Park. Located across from Carson Beach in South Boston and honors Congressman John J. Moakley. It consists of a couple of playgrounds and basketball courts filled with kids of all ages. The playgrounds are fenced in for safety. One of the basketball courts is generally crowded with teens, while the other one is used by tots on their tricycles. It's easy to meet other families with toddlers here.

• Public Restrooms around the Dewey Square Parks
• Restaurants Around Dewey Square Parks
• Bars Around Dewey Square Parks
• Attractions Around Dewey Square Parks
• Parking Around Dewey Square Parks

Enjoy a guided tour of the art (including specially-commissioned paintings by Ellsworth Kelly) and architecture of the Moakley Federal Courthouse and learn about the Federal Court system. Offered by Discovering Justice: the James D. St. Clair Court Education Project, these unique tours are offered year-round Tuesday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at no charge. Inside the Courthouse, electronic devices must be checked with security, and two forms of identification, including one with a photograph, are required. An observation area is on teh 2nd floor seating area and from the Library on the 9th floor, for a great view during normal business hours.
The open space on the waterside of the Moakley Courthouse provides stunning panoramic views of Boston Harbor from Downtown to East Boston. Along the HarborWalk, interpretive panels and ship silhouettes present the history of Fan Pier and Boston Harbor. A large medallion next to the HarborWalk shows the history of Boston Harbor and the Islands (popular with visitors for stone rubbings). The area includes sitting areas, picnic tables, public restrooms, and native plantings with informative plaques.

Evenly spaced London plane trees define the edges of the park, filter light in the summer, and let adequate light reach the ground during the winter. Trees frame a sitting area at the at the south end of the larger block. A lawn graces the Northern Avenue end of the park, rising gently to the center of the block. The park's tree canopy will shade roughly one-third of the open space. In between Marine Park and the Murphy Skating Rink is the Admiral Farragut Statue. Marine Park presents to the public a range of open space options that MassPort hopes citizens will find appealing.

• The park's centerpiece is a lawn that slopes up and away from the waterfront, affording views of the harbor from a slightly elevated perspective and providing a sledding opportunity in winter.
• The sidewalk along Northern Avenue is wide enough to accommodate a stage, with the lawn available to seat the audience.
• The park contains a clam shack-like food shed for patrons who can eat the fried offerings under two intersecting trellis structures, sheltering 100 moveable chairs.
• As many as 300 people can find seating on permanent seat-walls that guide pedestrian circulation throughout the park.

Rolling Bridge Park is a small park which contains benches, interpretive signs and a big, red painted arm of the Old Colony Railroad Bridge that formerly occupied this site. Depending on where you sit, you can have either a view of the Gillette World Shaving Headquarters, the Vent Building,the freeway and commuter rail, or where the MBTA houses Redline trains when not in use. Interestingly, there really is no way to compensate for the immense buildings, cables, steel and concrete which engulf the area. These industrial surroundings make everything within the park seem odd and unrealistic. The trees do not function as park trees. Rather, they function as street trees meticulously organized and set in pavement. It's as if someone sat down, made of formula of what a park needs, and set out to make an overly efficient open space. What you are left with just the idea of a park. This is a 'must see' location purely for the experience of the design. At the time of its construction in 1898, the Old Colony Railroad Bridge was the largest rolling drawbridge of its kind, and ran from Boston to Provincetown. In addition, stones are arranged in a seating pattern to mimic a circular configuration of another bridge that occupied a nearby site. Cabot Cove is accessible via a pedestrian bridge built into the Old Colony Railroad Bridge and along the west side of the Broadway Bridge.